The Italy Story

Bear with me as I write like a ring maker!

Over the Covid era, we all faced our challenges, and the market seemed to change dramatically every year. One night during this time, I discovered the possibility of obtaining Italian citizenship through descent. My mother was born here, but my grandparents (i miei nonni) were born in southern Italy. Family life and business have kept me so busy that I hadn't had the proper time to delve deeper into Italian culture beyond the basics that everyone fantasizes about. Yes, the prosciutto, cheese, and tomatoes are amazing, but there's more to life than those things. Like the wine.

As I learned more about Italian culture, I found many attractive aspects. Firstly, as a parent of three, I am committed to my responsibilities and unwilling to compromise. The Italian and European mindset is much more focused on education and social interactions—two things that, in my perspective, are declining in North America. I believe that a bit of life in Europe could provide my children with a unique advantage.

Secondly, the ring business. During my time in Italy setting up a few things, I noticed that my work ethic aligns closely with the Italian approach—very stubborn in the pursuit of quality. If a new method is discovered to enhance quality, we embrace that path, study it, and refine it. This is why a liter of wine can cost over 20,000 euros. It may be rare and old, but the same meticulous attitude applies to managing the vineyards.

I've seen various ring makers disappear as the North American market is flooded with mass-produced items from places like Aliexpress, making it challenging to stay motivated. If only there were a place that upheld artisanal quality... Well, there is—it's called Italy, where almost everything is as artisanal as possible. Here, Italians use the term "Japanese" to describe something of the highest quality (it's a positive thing). I believe continuing Ring and Grove in the Italian style will be great for both the business and the customer.

This project has been nearly two years in the making, which is painfully slow for the Canadian or American mindset. Perhaps anyone following our social media has noticed little hints. But I believe our future lies in keeping wood wedding bands alive by crafting them in a better environment. We'll push ourselves to make them greater and greater with each passing year.